GUCCI F/W2016 CAMPAIGN

Bubbles popping. Bells ringing. Buses honking. Alessandro Michele has done it again with Gucci’s autumn/winter 2016 campaign. Juxtaposing his maximalist designs with a chaotic Tokyo background, the resulting images are a delight to the senses. Photographer Glen Luchford and carefree models like Petra Collins, Sofia Friesen and Lia Pavlova, go from pachinko parlors to tea houses in a remarkable fashion.

In one shot, a plush pink coat stands out near cherry blossoms and smiling geishas. In another, a shimmering sequined skirt plays off against a bustling city street. Every outstanding part of the collection, from the fur-lined loafers in a zebra pattern to the pearls-embroidered sweater, was accounted for.

The descriptive subtitles add an immense element to the photos. Making it seem like they are stills from a movie, phrases like “city clamour” and “sirens in distance” promote the idea that a glorious adventure is happening. One can just imagine the relentless jingling sounds of the slot machines as a model sits in the neon pachinko parlor, wearing a sultry net-veiled hat. The vibrancy of Michele’s designs is matched by such rousing descriptions.

These images captivate, so much so, that the only thing as wonderful as viewing them again and again, is a spontaneous trip to Tokyo.